Foil: Coaches College - Day 3…
Today, the real physical training began in Gym 1 of Sports Center 1; it’s a big basketball court. We began with centering drills, arm positions, and simple foot work, then moved on to compound foot work. That finished off the first, four hour, morning session. understand that we were not being taught how to do these things. We were being taught how to teach them. This involved learning and then doing many drills which help build these skills.
The three hour afternoon session was all blade work, but mostly focusing on simple attacks. Again, not learning how to do them, but how to teach them. Unlike the typical group sessions I’m accustomed to, where things are done at extension distance (the distance a fencer can cover simply by fully extending his weapon arm without moving his feet), we were taught to, rather quickly, move form these initial lessons to teaching the same skills in motion because this is more like what the students will encounter in a real bout. We were also working in a more individual lesson capacity as opposed to a group lesson setting. I can see how doing things in motion is beneficial, though. My fencers are going to hate me when I return. Heheh.
I had expected to exert myself more today, though understand that I am by no means complaining. My thighs feel as though they are radiating heat, and don’t even get me started on my calves, shins, and ankles. I suspect they are going a little light on us this first day as some of us still acclimate.
I did have one or two, glowy, little me-me-me moments: once when I was called forward to demonstrate a ballestra (jump-lunge) to the rest of the coach candidates with no corrections from the maestro and applause from the coach candidates, and once when I helped another coach candidate understand the distinction between the eight weapon positions and parries in those positions, and got a thumbs up from one of the masters who over heard. Over all, though, I’m trying my best not to be that guy who always has the leading question that showcases his knowledge in front of everyone, or who presumes to think they know better than the masters who are teaching us, by offering opinions that only delay the class. I am trying to be a huge sponge with giant ears, and just take it all in.
We finished the day off with a seminar on the NCAA rules for recruiting athletes. It was a brief over view, but something I found valuable as our club is smack in the middle of a big college town. Good things to know, though I found myself wishing they had scheduled the seminar for the morning, and the physical stuff for afternoon and evening. I think I might have been more awake.
Tomorrow everything starts all over again at 6am, and we have three full sessions in the gym, with the final one ending at 9pm. I think my legs may give out entirely. Luckily there is only one session on Wednesday, followed by a brief seminar with the USFA. After that we’re given the afternoon and evening off. I suspect this is to allow for muscle recovery. I’m going to need it, I’m sure.
Well, I should be off studying. I hope to get some pictures tomorrow morning. I’ll post those when I get the chance.
“Foil: Coaches College - Day 3…”